Crystal Palace vs Arsenal predicted line-up and how to follow: Declan Rice returns but no Gabriel Jesus despite hat-trick
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Arsenal face a quick turnaround for a second meeting with Crystal Palace within a week when the two clubs reunite on Saturday.
The Gunners came from behind to book their spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a 3-2 victory over the Eagles on Wednesday.
Gabriel Jesus emphatically ended his recent goal drought by scoring a hat-trick at the Emirates to eliminate Oliver Glasner’s men.
However, Palace have an instant opportunity to get revenge in a far more damaging fashion to continue their upturn in league form.
The south Londoners are now unbeaten in their past five Premier League matches following a win over Brighton last time out.
Arsenal haven’t tasted defeat in nine in all competitions but a stalemate with Everton saw them miss the chance to close the gap to Liverpool, who had similarly dropped points.
As a result, Mikel Arteta‘s side have been overtaken by Chelsea in second and anything less than another victory could be costly.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal: Team news
Arteta detailed his thinking to talkSPORT behind bringing Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard off against Everton.
“Declan had to come off as he was feeling something, so he was uncomfortable,” Arteta revealed in his post-match interview.
The midfielder was left out of the squad for the midweek cup clash, but is expected to make an immediate return here.
Odegaard played and assisted twice against Palace and will slot alongside Rice, with Thomas Partey likely selected on the left.
The latter has been forced to deputise in defence this season, with full-back a particular injury concern for Arteta.
- Crystal Palace have alternated between defeat (4) and victory (3) in their last seven Premier League home London derby matches, losing 2-0 against Fulham last time out at Selhurst Park.
- Arsenal have lost just two of their last 19 away league games against Crystal Palace (W10 D7), with both defeats coming in the Premier League by a 3-0 scoreline (April 2017, April 2022).
- Crystal Palace have lost their last four Premier League meetings with Arsenal, having lost just one of their previous eight against the Gunners (W2 D5).
Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Riccardo Calafiori are all sidelined, with Jurrien Timber playing on the right.
Kieran Tierney made his first Arsenal appearance in over a year on Wednesday but went off with cramp and won’t be risked so soon.
Myles Lewis-Skelly instead will return after being rested in midweek, with David Raya, William Saliba, and Gabriel all nailed on to start.
Gabriel Martinelli has struggled for form this season but has scored more Premier League goals against Crystal Palace than he has against any other opponent with five.
That may give the Brazilian the edge over Leandro Trossard, however the same can’t be said for his countryman Jesus.
The latter’s treble provided a timely boost of confidence but will be an option from the bench with Kai Havertz leading the line.
As for the home side have lost Daniel Munoz to suspension after the Colombian picked up his fifth Premier League yellow card.
Nathaniel Clyne is set to reclaim his starting berth from eighteen-year-old Caleb Kporha, who managed 45 minutes in midweek.
Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta were both withdrawn after an hour to manage their minutes following returns from injury.
However, the pair will both start again here, with Adam Wharton, Matheus Franca, Rob Holding and Chadi Riad all unavailable.
- Since joining Crystal Palace from Arsenal earlier this season, Eddie Nketiah has had 20 shots in 11 Premier League games without scoring. Four players have had their first Premier League goal for a club come against Arsenal having previously played for the Gunners in the competition – Kevin Campbell (Nottingham Forest, 1995), Nicolas Anelka (Bolton, 2006), David Bentley (Tottenham, 2008) and Konstantinos Mavropanos (West Ham, 2023).
- No team has had more Premier League goals scored via defenders this season than Arsenal (7, level with Manchester City), while Crystal Palace have had the highest share of their Premier League goals this term come from defenders (29% – 5/17).
- Excluding penalties, Arsenal have scored more set piece goals than any other side in the Premier League this season (9). Meanwhile, 35% of Crystal Palace's 17 Premier League goals this term have come from set pieces (excluding penalties), with only Everton (57%) netting a higher such share.
- Arsenal kept nine clean sheets in 10 Premier League away games between February and September, but since then have conceded in each of their last six on the road. The Gunners last had a longer run without an away shutout between August and December 2019 (7).
- Having lost five of their first eight Premier League games this season (D3), Crystal Palace have now lost just one of their last eight (W3 D4), and are unbeaten in their last five (W2 D3). The Eagles are looking for back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since a run of three in May.
- Arsenal are unbeaten in all nine of their Premier League London derby matches in 2024 (W7 D2). The last team to go unbeaten in such matches in a full calendar year were Chelsea in 2005 (W9 D1), while the last time Arsenal did so was in 2004 (W7 D3).
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal: How to follow
This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, December 21.
Kick-off at Selhurst Park is scheduled for 5:30pm.
The action will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
talkSPORT will also keep you up to date with all the latest news and reaction. Meanwhile, talkSPORT.com will have live updates of the game on our dedicated live blog.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
